repertoire programme

[redberry]

Hello pianists!
I would like to hear your thoughts, ideas, complains  and /or advise about this programme:

-J.S. Bach: Partita no.6
(25-30 min , depending if playing with or without repeats)
--intermission ?-
-A. Skryabin: Sonate-fantasie no.2 (max 10 min)
-F. Schubert : Drei Klavierstucke D.946 (25 min)

Thanks !  

[shatteringpulse]

Hi redberry!

I have some thoughts--take them or leave them...

However sublime Bach's paritias may be, and even though Martha Argerich starts a lot of her concerts with them...Bach is very tedious for the average listener, even for the honed listener. I would start with something that displays more accessible musicality or sheer virtuosity to rally the audience or judges. You might want to play one of the pieces from the suites rather than a half hour romp through mathematical music--although it is sublime music! How about the Bouree from English Suite No. 2? (4 mins) Or even couple that with a Scarlatti sonata! But the partita would be fine if the second half of your program was all Scriabin. But even on that I'd throw some romanticism/classicism before the intermission.

Why not for the second half do Scriabin sonatas 6, 7, and 9? A sinister, followed by White Mass, and then ending on his masterpiece Black Mass? Schubert can go after the partita (play a small Schubert piece), and then you can do an all Scriabin second half. All in all, I'd recommend:

Bach: Bouree (English Suite 2)
Schubert: D. 946
INTERMISSION
Scriabin Sonate-fantasie 2
Scriabin Sonatas 6,7,9

[thracozaag]

Hi redberry!

I have some thoughts--take them or leave them...

However sublime Bach's paritias may be, and even though Martha Argerich starts a lot of her concerts with them...Bach is very tedious for the average listener, even for the honed listener. I would start with something that displays more accessible musicality or sheer virtuosity to rally the audience or judges. You might want to play one of the pieces from the suites rather than a half hour romp through mathematical music--although it is sublime music! How about the Bouree from English Suite No. 2? (4 mins) Or even couple that with a Scarlatti sonata! But the partita would be fine if the second half of your program was all Scriabin. But even on that I'd throw some romanticism/classicism before the intermission.

Why not for the second half do Scriabin sonatas 6, 7, and 9? A sinister, followed by White Mass, and then ending on his masterpiece Black Mass? Schubert can go after the partita (play a small Schubert piece), and then you can do an all Scriabin second half. All in all, I'd recommend:

Bach: Bouree (English Suite 2)
Schubert: D. 946
INTERMISSION
Scriabin Sonate-fantasie 2
Scriabin Sonatas 6,7,9

 Sorry, but are you insane?  Playing those four Scriabin sonatas in one half would be murder.  (and this from someone who's a Scriabin freak)

[eddie92099]

Sorry, but are you insane?  Playing those four Scriabin sonatas in one half would be murder.  (and this from someone who's a Scriabin freak)

I agree,
Ed

[Noah]

He probably meant 6, 7 OR 9.

[thracozaag]

He probably meant 6, 7 OR 9.

I initially thought so as well, but I re-read the post, and indeed 6, 7 AND 9.  Crazy.

[shatteringpulse]

Sure, I admit it would be crazy. But wouldn't it be a fascinating philosophical/psychological/technical odyssey for both the performer and the audience? Scriabin has some of the toughest, thickest textures in the repertoire, coupled with ultimate philosophical concentration--what could be better for the second half of a program? An insane challenge--but imagine the satisfaction and the glee of the audience--and especially the ecstasy of the performer--and also the drain on him/her. Heck, why not throw in poem of ecstasy in rather than no. 2. Now that's over the top!

[thracozaag]

Sure, I admit it would be crazy. But wouldn't it be a fascinating philosophical/psychological/technical odyssey for both the performer and the audience? Scriabin has some of the toughest, thickest textures in the repertoire, coupled with ultimate philosophical concentration--what could be better for the second half of a program? An insane challenge--but imagine the satisfaction and the glee of the audience--and especially the ecstasy of the performer--and also the drain on him/her. Heck, why not throw in poem of ecstasy in rather than no. 2. Now that's over the top!

 Look, I'm all for this type of programming...I've learned 8 of the 10 sonatas and programmed three in once concert (but not all in the same half).  2, 6, 7, and 9 in one half is just overkill..and would kill the performer.  6 and 7 are HARD.
 Of course if I could jump in a time machine and hear Sofronitsky do that program I'd be in heaven

[thracozaag]

Hello pianists!
I would like to hear your thoughts, ideas, complains  and /or advise about this programme:

-J.S. Bach: Partita no.6
(25-30 min , depending if playing with or without repeats)
--intermission ?-
-A. Skryabin: Sonate-fantasie no.2 (max 10 min)
-F. Schubert : Drei Klavierstucke D.946 (25 min)

Thanks !  

To get back to your original question.  I think you'll need one other piece in either half to balance things out a bit.  You might consider starting with the Scriabin and then playing the Bach.  Something to cleanse the palate for the 2nd half, and then end with the Schubert.  I think it's great that you're playing some unhackneyed repertoire like the Scriabin and Schubert, though.